A bicycle riding group that is the opposite of the speeding scourge zipping along city bike paths has been formed in the Cherry Creek Valley.

Cherry Creek Cruisers is a group of adult singles 50+ who are bringing slow and social cruising similar to beach bicycle riding back to our local bicycle trails.

"We don’t race, speed or wear Spandex," explained co-organizer John Edwards.

"Instead, we revert back to the wide handle bars and balloon tire bicycles of our youth."  "We do require riders to have headgear and irritating bicycle bells."

Avid cruiser bicyclist Larry Rivera heads the group and leads the peddling pack along different local trails on Tuesday nights.

The group was formed to get adult singles, who already have a bicycle --probably with a flat tire-- sitting in the garage, out to enjoy the many bicycle paths throughout the Cherry Creek Valley.  The myriad of trails along Cherry Creek interconnect with the Highline Canal Trails and even go into Cherry Creek State Park. (Admittance into Cherry Creek State Park is free to bicycle riders.)

"We try to keep our keep our cruisers off the dangerous streets," explained group leader Rivera.

The adult singles bring their bicycles to the Bicycle Village parking lot near the Cherry Creek Trail in Aurora.  There bicycles can have the recommended sealant and proper air pressure pumped into their flat tires.

Starting from the west edge of that parking lot at Havana and Yale, Rivera  selects different routes each week. After a few miles, the group stops along the trail before heading back along a different route. A restaurant where cruisers can cool down with a frozen margaritas awaits back at the starting lot.

"It is a less-sweaty bicycle experience but we aren’t hunched over, dressed weird or scaring little children and dogs," Edwards explained.

A consideration for women cyclists is the fear of a bicycle breakdown on the wooded trails far away from help. They may not have the tools, spare tire or experience to repair a flat so they just don’t ride. There is more safety in a group..

The Cherry Creek Cruisers events include a "chase van" (just like the Tour de France) complete with spare tires and even a replacement bicycle that can be delivered to a breakdown.

"We leave no single cyclist stranded," Edwards added.

The single cruisers ride every Tuesday afternoon at 6 p.m. The cost for the escorted ride including bicycle preparation, energy bars, bottled water and the repair van is $10. The sincle cyclists meet in the west parking lot of Bicycle Village at South Havana and Yale in Aurora.